PSE Dream Season Decree Review

February 24, 2015 By Jon E. Silks

It's a match made in bowhunting heaven — many, many bowhunters like fast bows, and PSE absolutely loves making them. The new Dream Season Decree will get your arrow to its destination in a hurry.

The Decree is built on a new Planar X 3-D structural riser design and powered by PSE's Inertia hybrid-cam system. X-Tech Speed Limbs are harnessed by the CenterLock Speed pockets, and the 3rd generation B.E.S.T. grip provides the interface for the archer. Other features include the BackStop 3 string suppressor, limb bands and much more.

Precision Speed

No matter how you slice it, the Decree is a speedster. With advertised IBO speeds reaching 355 fps on a 6-inch brace height with 75 percent effective system letoff, sight pins will get closer and some may disappear altogether!

PSE's Inertia Cam, which is the engine behind the quick attack, is a hybrid system designed to operate at the highest efficiency of any PSE inner-cam bow to date. Draw lengths run from 24€‰½ inches (the L setting) through 30 inches (the A setting), in half-inch increments. PSE engineered the skeletal cams for optimized nock travel at every setting.

PSE developed a new "Planar X" 3-D structural riser design that alternates position of the inner bridging to create what is a crossing or "X" pattern. This creates super strong braces that fight side to side flex while straight structural lines front and back stifle flex in that direction. Together they enhance overall stiffness, which is vital to a consistent, accurate shooting experience.

CenterPull Technology is the configuration of the limbs, cams, cables and string in such a position as to precisely center the arrow in the structure of the bow for optimized tunability. Other riser features include engraved tuning marks in the shelf area, multiple sight-mounting positions and a stainless steel stabilizer mount.

Signature Curl

In 2005, PSE pioneered the massively pre-loaded X-Tech split-limb technology. They tweaked the design to come up with the latest version called X-Tech Speed Limbs, their most efficient limb system to date. Each limb size is unique, with an optimized belly profile for that particular configuration and deflection value.

When drawn, the limbs reach far beyond parallel to take advantage of the significant benefits provided by parallel and past-parallel limb configurations in terms of reduced shock, vibration and noise. Limbs are available in peak draw weights of 50, 60, 65 and 70 pounds.

The PSE CenterLock Speed Pocket cradles the limbs at their end and approximately two inches down the limb toward the cam. These pivoting pockets are minimal in material, making them lighter, while precisely securing the limbs.

All That Remains

PSE's proven B.E.S.T. grip is designed to position the shooter's hand and arm for biomechanically correct bone alignment, which generates consistency. The new, 3rd generation version adds taper to the profile to improve comfort. The grip consists of the sculpted aluminum handle and soft-touch side-grip panels.

pse_chart PSE's adjustable FlexSlide cable-containment device uses a mini X-Technology limb to maintain a consistent lateral load while the bow is being drawn. It is also adjustable to ensure your fletching can clear the cables and help tune your bow. A low-friction polymer material is affixed to the limb where the slide contacts during the draw cycle.

Other than the vibration, shock and noise reduction provided by the past-parallel limb position, PSE also adds the new BackStop 3 adjustable string suppressor and factory installed limb bands.

Impressions

The Decree is quick, and while you will put a lot into it during the draw cycle, you will certainly get a lot out of it when you release the string, as proven in the accompanying efficiency numbers. The draw cycle is stout and aggressive, climbing to peak exceptionally early, followed by a mostly downhill experience from there (see draw-force curve diagram). Shooters can adjust the valley by removing the top cable draw stop and adjusting the limb stop.

There is a measure of shock and vibration from the shot, but nothing overly concerning considering the speeds generated. Noise levels are excellent for any bow, let alone a bow at this performance level.

Specifications

Manufacturer: PSE, 520-884-9065

Model: Dream Season Decree

Cam System: Inertia Hybrid Cam

Weight: 3.7 pounds (advertised and as tested)

Brace Height: 6 inches

Axle-To-Axle length: 31 3„8 inches

Letoff: 75 percent

Draw Weights: 50, 60, 65 and 70 pounds peak

Draw Lengths: 24€‰½-30 inches, in half-inch increments

Riser: Aluminum, CenterPull, Reflex

Limbs: Split, X-Tech Speed Limbs